Share this @internewscast.com

WASHINGTON — A Donald Trump supporter who faced threats after far-right conspiracy theorists and then-Fox News host Tucker Carlson falsely suggested he was a secret government operative who entrapped other Jan. 6 rioters was sentenced to probation on Tuesday.

Ray Epps, who was on the grounds of the Capitol on Jan. 6, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count earlier this year. Prosecutors sought a six-month prison sentence for Epps who became a target of far-right conspiracy theorists who have sought ways to obscure the truth: that hundreds of Trump supporters committed criminal acts on Jan. 6 because they believed the former president’s lie that the 2020 presidential election had been stolen.

“More than 700 people have been sentenced in this courthouse for their role in January 6th. Not one is a member of Antifa or a FBI agent,” Judge James Boasberg said Tuesday before sentencing Epps to probation.

Federal prosecutors had argued that Epps’ conduct on Jan. 6 was worthy of a period of incarceration, saying he “did not deserve the threats but does deserve to go to jail.”

“Ray Epps has been unfairly scapegoated. He was not a secret agent trying to trick Trump supporters,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gordon said during the sentencing hearing. “He is not innocent either.”

Epps told the judge before his sentencing that Fox News contributed to his belief that the election was stolen. He is currently suing Fox News, accusing the network of spreading the conspiracy theory that he was a federal agent. A representative for Fox did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Speaking of the pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6, Epps said that he had “never seen hate and vulgarity on this level” and that he realized “in hindsight” that what he did on Jan. 6 “is not what a Constitution-loving American would do.”

Epps, who now lives in an RV with his wife because of threats and called into the hearing remotely, said that he now chooses God and the Constitution over politicians and that he wants to help others who fell for lies about the 2020 presidential election.

“I commit to use the rest of my life to teach others to respect election results,” Epps said, indicating he planned to commit himself to advocating against election denialism.

Boasberg said that Epps had been “vilified in a matter unique to January 6 defendants” and that he was “the only one who suffered for what you didn’t do.” Boasberg said he believed Epps was truly remorseful for his actions.

“Given all of that mitigation, I believe prison is not warranted,” Boasberg said, sentencing Epps to a year of probation and 100 hours of community service.

Despite the fact that Epps was charged with and pleaded guilty to a federal crime, and that the government advocated for Epps to spend six months in federal prison, baseless and fact-free conspiracy theories about him continued to spread on Tuesday.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Amber Alert issued for girl, 9, abducted from Lake George, NY; may be in ‘imminent danger,’ police say

Amber Alert for 9-Year-Old Girl Kidnapped from Lake George, NY; Police Warn of Immediate Threat

A 9-year-old girl is believed to be in “imminent danger” after police…
Trump calls for Obama to be arrested as he posts AI video of former president being cuffed by FBI in the Oval Office

Trump Demands Obama’s Arrest, Shares AI-Generated Video Showing Former President Being Handcuffed by FBI in the Oval Office

DONALD Trump has shared an AI-generated video of Barack Obama being arrested…
Chicago officials to cut ribbon for renovated CTA Red Line stations at Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, Bryn Mawr on North Side

Chicago to Unveil Renovated Red Line Stations at Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr

CHICAGO (WLS) — An official ribbon cutting celebration is happening Monday at…

CEO Andy Byron’s Explicit Remarks Surface Following “Mistress” Kristin Cabot’s On-Screen Appearance at Coldplay Concert

TECH CEO Andy Byron appeared to say “f****** hell, it’s me” after…
Construction crew accidentally blasts through living room wall of NYC couple's apartment: 'I just saw daylight'

NYC Couple’s Living Room Wall Accidentally Blasted Through by Construction Crew: ‘I Just Saw Daylight’

That’s not the kind of exposed brick they expected. This week, a…
Doctor reveals 5 simple secrets to poop like a pro on vacation

Doctor Shares 5 Easy Tips for Staying Regular While Traveling

You love to jet set — but you don’t love the way…
Emergency responders at a bus crash scene.

Brave Firefighter on Day Off Rushes to Rescue Children After School Trip Bus Accident, Resulting in One Death and 21 Injuries

A HEROIC off-duty firefighter who was driving behind a school bus when…
Border Patrol says some illegal migrants arrested in Sacramento raid had criminal histories

Border Patrol Reports Arrest of Migrants with Criminal Records in Sacramento Raid

Border Patrol reported that during a recent operation at a Home Depot…
Florida Representative Joe Casello dies while in office

Florida Representative Joe Casello Passes Away During Tenure

Casello was a firefighter in Worcester, Massachusetts, for three decades before entering…
Trump's approval rating on his top issue of immigration slips: poll

Poll Shows Decline in Trump’s Approval Rating on Immigration Issue

President Trump seems to be losing some traction with the general public…
My husband cheated on me AGAIN, this time while I was hospitalized

My husband was unfaithful again, even while I was in the hospital

DEAR ABBY: After becoming sick a few months back, I spent 10…
Suspect in Los Angeles car-ramming incident has a criminal history and was on parole, police say

Los Angeles Car-Ramming Suspect, With Criminal Past, Was On Parole, According To Police

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Officials reported Sunday that a man suspected of…